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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001029 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: MAY 13, 2009 
 
Summary:  Reports of "commandos descending on militants' chief 
Fazlullah's stronghold in Swat to conduct search operation" 
dominated headlines in all newspapers on Wednesday.  All newspapers 
highlighted report that "at least 10 people were killed in yet 
another suspected U.S. drone attack" in South Waziristan near 
Pak-Afghan border.  Reports on the "National Assembly's strong 
backing of military action against Taliban rebels in troubled areas" 
also received extensive coverage.  The remarks of U.S. Special Envoy 
Holbrooke that the "U.S. was considering additional aid to Pakistan 
to help hundreds of thousands of its citizens displaced by the 
military offensive against Taliban" received prominent display. 
President Zardari's statement that he made in an interview with NBC 
TV that the "ISI along with the CIA conceived and gave birth to the 
Taliban" was also highlighted. 
 
Most major newspapers ran editorials analyzing various aspects of 
the ongoing military operation including the escalating difficulties 
of the Internally Displaced Persons.  The liberal Urdu daily 
"Express," observed that "it is the international community's 
responsibility to help Pakistan deal with circumstances that emerged 
as a result of the operation against extremists."  The centrist 
national daily "The News" wrote:  "Some plan must also be put in 
place to help the people caught up in the midst of fighting.  Many 
of them are the most impoverished residents of war-hit towns and 
villages, who lack the resources to flee."  The Lahore-based liberal 
daily, "Daily Times," noted that the "population exodus from the 
Malakand region should have been the first thing to come to mind 
when the government decided to finally confront the Taliban in Swat 
with military action."  End Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
"Troops Descend On Fazlullah Stronghold; ISPR Says 751 Militants 
Killed So Far" "The News" (05/13) 
 
"The Pakistan Army on Tuesday dropped heliborne troops, including 
commandos, in the stronghold of militants' chief Maulana Fazlullah 
to conduct a search operation, while security forces made 
significant achievements in the operation.  So far, 751 militants 
had been killed in the ongoing operation while 29 personnel of 
security forces were martyred, military spokesman Major-General 
Athar Abbas said at a news briefing in Islamabad on Tuesday." 
 
"Drone Attack Kills Ten More In SWA" "The News" (05/13) 
 
"Twelve people were killed in yet another U.S. drone attack in South 
Waziristan Agency (SWA) near the Pak-Afghan border on Tuesday 
morning.  Tribal sources said six, or possibly more, missiles were 
fired at three to four houses at Sunrai Zyara Leeta border village 
at 8 am." 
 
"MPs Back Operation against Taliban" "Dawn" (05/13) 
 
"The ongoing military action against Taliban rebels in the Malakand 
division of the North West Frontier Province received a strong 
backing in the National Assembly on Tuesday.  Most of the speakers 
said the rebels now deserved no mercy in view of their challenge, in 
the garb religion, to everything that the Pakistani state stands 
for." 
 
"U.S. Ponders More Aid For Pak IDPs" "The Nation" (05/13) 
 
"The Obama Administration is considering additional aid to Pakistan 
to help hundreds of thousands of its citizens displaced by the 
military offensive against Taliban in the Swat Valley, the top U.S. 
envoy for the region Richard Holbrooke told the Senate Foreign 
Relations Committee." 
 
"U.S. Provides Emergency Electrical And Logistical Support Equipment 
To IDP Camps" "Jang" (05/13) 
 
"The people of the United States are providing logistical equipment 
including generators and transformers to power water pumps and 
lights benefitting more than 22,000 Internally Displaced Persons 
(IDP) in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP), the U.S. 
Embassy said in a statement on Monday." 
 
"Two U.S. Senators Oppose Move For Pakistan Aid" "Dawn" (05/13) 
 
"The Obama administration faced strong opposition from two Senators 
- a Democrat and a Republican - to rush $497 million of emergency 
aid to Pakistan.  One of them, Senator Bob Corker, a Tennessee 
Republican, said he was concerned that the Obama administration was 
trying to rush emergency aid without proper congressional oversight 
to a country where some of the leaders have been called 'Mr. 10 per 
cent' because of their alleged corruption.  'It will be a monumental 
mistake' if the administration sent aid to Pakistan without proper 
congressional oversight, he said.  Senator Bob Mendez, a Democrat 
from New Jersey, said he had voted for bills supporting Pakistan on 
several occasions in the past but he was not going to vote for this 
move." 
 
"All-Party Conference" "Dawn" (05/13) 
 
"The U.S. Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan 
Richard Holbrooke welcomed Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's 
decision to call an all-party conference to discuss the situation in 
Swat and the adjacent valleys, noting that other political parties 
in Pakistan also had welcomed this suggestion." 
 
"CIA, ISI Created Taliban Together, Says Zardari" "The News" 
(05/13) 
 
"President Asif Ali Zardari has said that Pakistan's Inter-Services 
Intelligence along with the CIA conceived and gave birth to the 
Taliban, Zardari told the NBC news channel in an interview on 
Monday." 
 
"CIA, Not ISI, Created Taliban, says Kaira" "The News" (05/13) 
 
"Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira 
has made it clear that the Taliban were the creation of CIA and not 
the ISI, while addressing Pakistan community in New York." 
 
"IDPs Fear Serious Repercussions For Govt. If Military Operation 
Fails" "The News" (05/13) 
 
"The hapless people of the Malakand region, displaced by the 
military operation, want complete elimination of the militants to 
dispel the impression that both parties to the conflict - Taliban 
and government - are two faces of the same coin.  Dozens of the 
internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Swat, Dir and Buner 
residing in various camps in Mardan stated this while talking to 
'The News.'" 
 
"Half Million Fresh IDPs Registered" "The News" (05/13) 
 
"More than half a million people have fled fighting between the 
military and Taliban in Malakand Division and registered with 
authorities in the last 10 days, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said 
on Tuesday." 
 
"Deserted Buner Villages Are Ghost Towns" "The News" (05/13) 
 
"Despite the fact that the security forces now control about 70 per 
cent of the area in Buner, villages in the once busy and thriving 
district are virtually ghost towns and those still remaining are 
considering to leave due to the feeling of insecurity and lack of 
basic services." 
 
"Militants On The Run In Swat, Malakand, Says Malik" "The News" 
(05/13) 
 
"Minister for Interior Rehman Malik on Tuesday said the situation in 
Swat was under control and the militants were on the retreat. 
Talking to journalists in Islamabad, Rehman Malik said that the 
militants were on the run." 
 
"Offensive In Swat - Boon Or Bane For Taliban?" "Dawn" (05/13) 
 
"Monday's suicide attack that killed and maimed a large number of 
people at a paramilitary check-post in Darra Adamkhel was not 
entirely unexpected.  Perhaps the only surprising element was its 
timing and location.  In the past, extremists associated with the 
outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) of Baitullah Mehsud have 
been quick to hit back as a riposte to military operations in Swat 
and its adjoining areas and/or in Waziristan.  On this occasion, 
they not only waited but also appear to have chosen a target 
randomly." 
 
"It's Time To Force U.S. Out: Nizami" "The Nation" (05/13) 
 
"Editor-in-Chief daily 'The Nation' and Chairman 'Nazria Pakistan 
Trust' Majid Nizami has said that the time has come to force the 
U.S. to go out of Pakistan in order to save our nuclear assets and 
destabilization of Pakistan.  And if the rulers do not ask America 
to get out, we should get rid of them." 
 
"MoU Has Nothing To Do With India" "The News" (05/13) 
 
"Commerce Secretary Salman Ghani has said the MoU signed between 
Pakistan and Afghanistan in Washington for renegotiating Afghan 
Transit Trade has nothing to do with India and is purely a bilateral 
understanding, while talking to 'The News.'" 
 
"Opposition In NA Assails Afghan Transit Trade MoU" "The News" 
(05/13) 
 
"The government came under attack in the National Assembly Tuesday 
for signing in Washington a memorandum of understanding (MoU) 
regarding Afghan transit trade that will allow India to use the 
Pakistani land route for trade with Afghanistan....  Expressing 
anguish over the signing of the MoU, Ayaz Amir said instead of being 
treated on a par with India, we are now being bracketed with 
Afghanistan." 
 
"Experts Express Concern Over Afghan Transit Trade" "The News" 
(05/13) 
 
"The business experts including a former Foreign Secretary have 
demanded of the government that the transit trade treaty with 
Afghanistan should have been signed in Pakistan not in Washington 
and the same should be displayed for the people as keeping it secret 
and covert was creating doubts among the traders." 
 
"Trilateral Summit Postponed" "The News" (05/13) 
 
"The trilateral summit of the presidents of Pakistan, Iran and 
Afghanistan, expected in Tehran on May 19, is likely to be 
postponed, Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said on Tuesday." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
"IDPs Await International Assistance," an editorial in liberal Urdu 
daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (05/13) 
 
"Since Pakistan is playing a role in the war on terror to preserve 
international peace, it is the international community's 
responsibility to help Pakistan deal with circumstances that emerge 
as a result of the operation against extremists.  This help is 
actually in the international community's interests." 
 
"IDP Issues," an editorial in the centrist national English daily 
"The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/13) 
 
"Some plan must also be put in place to help the people caught up in 
the midst of fighting.  Many of them are the most impoverished 
residents of war-hit towns and villages, who lack the resources to 
flee.  These people, like the IDPs, must not be punished for their 
helplessness.  All that is possible must therefore be done to show 
them they have not been abandoned and that all that is possible is 
being done to ensure their suffering is as limited as possible.  A 
failure to do so would benefit the Taliban." 
 
"Prospects Of A 'Quick Finish' In Swat," an editorial in the 
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 
10,000) (05/13) 
 
"A population exodus from the Malakand region should have been the 
first thing to come to mind when the government decided to finally 
confront the Taliban in Swat with military action.  But, as the 
tragic drama of the refugees unfolds now, there are crucial 
dimensions of the conflict that were not taken into account.  One 
can easily take in one's stride the initial difficulties faced by 
the internally displaced persons (IDPs) at the Mardan and Swabi 
camps.  One knows from experience that in the coming days the camps 
will settle down to normal functioning after an initial appearance 
of chaos." 
 
"Looking America In The Eye," an editorial in the second-largest, 
center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) 
(05/13) 
 
"Addressing Pakistanis in New York, President Zardari said that 
after getting the parliament's mandate, he will look America in the 
eye as he talks about Pakistan's future....  If President Zardari is 
really serious, instead of going on all these [foreign] trips he 
should hold an all-parties conference to discuss the impact of the 
military operation in Swat, FATA and Balochistan, and the inequities 
faced by the people of NWFP and Balochistan and formulate a 
comprehensive national strategy....  Only the Pakistani nation can 
play a role in strengthening democracy and this can happen only when 
the government - giving importance to the nation's sentiments - 
raises the slogan of "Go America Go" and instead of using force, 
adopts the path of dialogue." 
 
"Muddled Numbers," an editorial in the centrist national English 
daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/13) 
 
"If the majority of Taliban fatalities are caused by artillery and 
airstrikes rather than by infantry - then who goes in and counts the 
bodies afterwards?  And who buries them?  Where?  We are told that 
the army is prepared for 'hand-to-hand' fighting in Mingora.  We are 
told that the Taliban will be 'wiped out' of Swat and elsewhere.  We 
are told many things - and yet we are told nothing at the same time. 
 '700 dead' in the last four days?" 
 
"Deceptive Aid," an editorial in the center-right national English 
daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (05/13) 
 
"It is quite surprising to learn that out of $1.9 billion of the 
U.S. aid, almost half would be spent on enhancing the security of 
U.S. Embassy and consulates in Pakistan.  This belies the common 
impression given by the American leadership that the sum is directed 
at strengthening the country's economy.  It sounds pretty 
devious....  The protection of U.S. missions in the country could 
not serve the purpose of improving the economy. This is a sad 
reflection on the way U.S. intends utilizing the aid while its 
official, political and media circles keep harping on the theme of 
billions of dollars doled out to Pakistan.  Strangely also, the 
Americans insist on the right use of the aid." 
 
"Military Operation Should Be For A Short Period Of Time," an 
editorial in the leading mass circulation centrist Urdu daily "Jang" 
(cir. 300,000) (05/13) 
 
"The flawed administration, lack of makeshift dwellings, almost no 
healthcare, and food and absence of proper guidance for the IDPs 
about their camps necessitate posting of such government officials 
at the camps who are committed and devoted to this noble cause, or 
else, maladministration and half-hearted measures will shatter the 
trust of the international community, particularly the donor 
countries and agencies on the Government of Pakistan.  It is 
regrettable that prior to the military operation, no one anticipated 
the issue of a population exodus.  And the problems and difficulties 
of these unfortunate people reveal mismanagement and bad performance 
of the government...  Moreover, the government must confine the 
military operation to a short span of time, and its framework and 
objectives must also be clearly defined." 
 
"Need To Deal With Foreign Agenda," an editorial in the 
Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000) 
(05/13) 
 
"The two hundred years history of the United States clearly shows 
that it has ruined many countries by exploiting them for its own 
national interests.  We can see what happened in Afghanistan and 
Iraq, and now it is Pakistan's turn.  The U.S. officials' hue and 
cry that Pakistan has become a safe haven of Al Qaeda, Taliban and 
terrorists, has some reason. If truth be told, the hidden objectives 
of this uproar are same as those were in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Now 
it is up to our rulers that how do they deal with this threat, or 
will they go on with the military operation against their own 
people." 
 
"Signs Of Consensus," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left 
independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (05/13) 
 
"The government, for its part, has accepted the opposition's call 
for an all-parties conference to discuss the emerging situation. 
For the first time, it is clear that the treasury and the opposition 
alike believe the militants have gone too far and that our way of 
life is in imminent danger.  The time has come for all politicians 
of any standing to state their case: do they support Talibanization 
or wish to halt it in its tracks?" 
 
"U.S. [IRI] Survey Report," an editorial in the second-largest, 
center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) 
(05/13) 
 
"According to the U.S. International Republican Institute, President 
Zardari's popularity has now dropped to 19 per cent, while Mian 
Nawaz Sharif has been declared the most popular leader, with 75 
percent support...  This report by the IRI undoubtedly reflects the 
awareness of the Pakistani nation, and this collective awareness 
signals the supremacy of democracy.  President Zardari and his party 
must ponder why his popularity is declining and try to improve the 
situation else the PPP's fate in the next elections will be similar 
to that of the PML-Q's. On the other hand, Mian Nawaz Sharif has 
come out as the most popular leader because his views have echoed 
national sentiments.  However, he should not rely on any certificate 
from the U.S. to endorse his popularity because there seem to be 
several U.S. objectives at work behind this validation." 
 
"Can The Taliban Be Defeated?," an op-ed by S.M. Naseem in the 
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" 
(cir. 55,000) (05/13) 
 
"As for the local population, although it may not have much love for 
the Taliban, they hardly see the security forces as their 
protectors....  If the army wants to play its role in saving the 
nation from the threat some believe it had helped create, it will 
have to both reinvent itself internally and reconstruct its role in 
societal transformation....  It needs to be realized that, like all 
insurgencies, the Taliban insurgency can't be quashed through a 
military operation alone, unless the people themselves are convinced 
of its viciousness and futility....  It will be foolhardy to believe 
that people at large will rise against the Taliban." 
 
"Hammer And Anvil Action In Swat," an op-ed S.M. Hali in the 
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(05/13) 
 
"It is imperative that the operation be supported wholeheartedly to 
purge the region of the miscreants.  This time if the government 
means business, it should support the armed forces, more 
importantly, the people have to be wholehearted in championing the 
cause.  The plight of the refugees requires international support. 
The IDPs must be sheltered, fed, and aided to overcome the trauma of 
the last few years of suppression, terror and fear.  If the IDPs are 
not supported in their moment of need, they can be exploited by 
circumstances or the miscreants to turn to terror.  The world owes 
it to them to save them from the hammer and anvil of misery and 
death." 
 
"The Other Side Of War With Talibans," an op-ed Syed Ali Zafar in 
the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(05/13) 
 
"This is a golden chance for the West, and particularly U.S., to 
show its good side as well.  People like Hillary, who has urged 
Pakistan to start this war against Talibans, should now equally 
forcefully tell the world that immediate aid should be provided to 
these people. Surely this will show to the people that the West is 
with them in the time of need and is not anti-Islam....  The needs 
of the IDPs have to be met on a war footing parallel with the armed 
conflict.  A failure will mean that the anger of these people will 
turn against Pakistan. The Talibans would then win a psychological 
war and people may turn to them in retaliation." 
 
"People's Response To The IDP Crisis," an op-ed by Rahimullah 
Yusufzai in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 
55,000) (05/13) 
 
"The total number of IDPs is anybody's guess with all kinds of 
figures floating around.  They could have crossed the figure of 1.3 
million by now....  As a military victory against the Taliban may 
not come soon, the government will have to come up with better and 
long-term plans to look after the IDPs." 
 
"Our Million Plus Pakistanis," an op-ed by Nasim Zehra in the 
centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/13) 
 
"The nightmare figure has crossed a one million.  Refugees in their 
own homeland, thousands of Pakistanis are daily escaping from the 
killing fields of Swat and other areas....  Meanwhile, how 
Pakistanis handle the refugee challenge will also impact on the 
final outcome of Pakistan's counter-insurgency battle.  It is a tall 
order.  The Pakistani state, society and the political class have no 
choice but to rise to the occasion." 
 
"History Repeats Itself - At Great Cost To Our Nation," an op-ed by 
Shireen M. Mazari in the centrist national English daily "The News" 
(cir. 55,000) (05/13) 
 
"The Americans have finally got what they wanted thanks to the 
pusillanimity of our leadership - both civil and military - and all 
for the sake of temporary-relief dollars, five helicopters and a few 
other expensive military toys which we should not need since we have 
a nuclear deterrence in place at the strategic level....  Military 
action against one's own people has never worked - certainly not for 
Pakistan.  Even when our militants were clearly supported by 
external players, military action aggravated the situation.... 
Frankly, it seems more likely that the so-called Taliban may have 
actually fled away and it is innocent people whose body count is 
being shown to the U.S. as proof that the army is serious in 
countering terrorism.  The U.S. has prevailed and the nation is the 
loser. " 
 
"Moment Of Reckoning," an op-ed by Dr. Maleeha Lodhi in the centrist 
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/13) 
 
"The launch of a full-fledged military operation in Swat with strong 
public support offers the government an unprecedented opportunity to 
chart a decisive new course to halt and reverse the rising tide of 
militancy that threatens the country....  Ultimately insurgencies 
are defeated by political means even if the military instrument is 
essential to create the conditions for these to come into play." 
 
"Will U.S. Abandon Pakistan Again?," an op-ed by Brig. A.R. Bilal, 
in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" 
(cir. 5,000) (05/13) 
 
"Despite rebounding suspicions, the U.S. is adamant that its 
relationship with Pakistan is for the long haul.  However, Pakistani 
infatuation with the U.S. has to be gauged on basis of objective 
realities rather than rosy promises of an uncertain future. 
Pakistanis wonder if it is going to be the post CENTO or post Jihad 
scenario all over again....  The reality is that an ungrateful US 
has not constructed a single university, hospital, dam, factory, sea 
port, expressway, railroad, pipeline, electric power generation 
station, subway, airport, bridge or tunnel in Pakistan.  Of the 
hundreds of billions of dollars spent by the U.S. on development, 
only an insignificant sum has been spent on Pakistan.  The long-term 
economic needs of Pakistan have been disregarded." 
Patterson